Everyone’s thinking these days…and it usually involves boxes of some sort. "Thinking inside the box", "Thinking outside the box"…well not to be outdone the Timberlog presents a new feature.

Thinking inside the box, although the ref being blind as the preverbial Chiroptera, decided that the tackle was outside the area and therefore it’s …

...”Thinking at the Edge of the Box"!!!

How's this for starters...

Cash in on Ichiro-Fever by signing a star from Japan’s J-League (everyone seems to be signing at least one these days!). What about “Cheeky” Chikara Fujimoto, Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s hot striker. Or what about the timberlog’s favorite * J-League player Masashi “Gon” Nakayama, Jubilo Iwata’s top goalscorer and the top scorer in the J-League…if you ignore the Brazilians, Koreans and a Croatian!! Imagine...plane loads of Japanese youth flying in each week (INS willing!) and loads of airtime on TV news.

Like R.Baggio for Italians, Julie Andrews in musical theatre world, Nakayama seems to have cemented his legendary status in Asian football scene. Guiness record holder for hattricks in four consecutive games in J-League.The first World Cup scorer ever from Japan squad. Decisive goal scorer which led his Júbilo Iwata to Asian championship.
Where there's history, there's always a "Gon-gol".

Being known as a funny person as he is with silly jokes and big high-toned voice (Think of Barbra Streisand singing Arlen tunes in her 2nd album) , his performances on the field prove he's a lot more than a spokesman of football world toward this baseball-land.
He KNOWS when and where to be, what to do, and simply DO it with an incredible poise, intelligence and concentration that's there all the time, and these professionalism and skill of his help his teammates and coaches a great deal. For them, for fans and for everybody, his presence itself is the will to win.

Top 10s...everybody's got them and those without get spat at in the street and are never invited to swanky parties. So in an attempt to catch up with the pack the timberlog is proud to announce...

...TimberLists!!!

First up...

The Un-Written Rules of Timbers Soccer:submitted by: KyrgyzstaniGold

1 Brent Sancho, Brian Winters, or Scott Benedetti must get a yellow card
2 Jeff Clarke must get injured and babied for 10 minutes
3 When Vadim plays, he must get injured and carded, but the card is not for
something he does, but something that is done to him
4 When Vadim plays, he must yell at the Ref or Ref's assistant.
5 Vadim must share water with another player
6 Mark Beana must get hit with a flying water bottle
7 Brent Sancho MUST do some sort of amazing feat (Most of the time jumping
over other players)
8 Darren Sawatzky must take any and all throw-ins
9 Brian Winters must be the first one out of the locker room for autograph
signings
10 When Matt Napoleon exits the locker room for autographs wearing a brown
shirt, all activity must cease to make time for cheers and applause

The Oregonian reports today that Mark Baena has been released by the Timbers to "look at other opportunities". Mark was the Timbers leading scorer last season, but had questioned his decision to sign with the Timbers during the year. He revealed that he chose to sign with the Timbers over Rochester so that he could be closer to his home and business in San Diego. He also stated that he would consider a move to the East Coast if approached again so don't be surprised to see Mark playing for the Rhinos next year. It was also announced that most fans MVP, keeper Matt Napoleon, has been re-signed and Tony McPeak and Neil Ryan, who both had little playing time, had also been waived.

Michael O'Neill signs for ClydebankFormer Timbers midfielder and N. Ireland international Michael O'Neill has signed for Scottish Second Division side Clydebank after playing in a trial game last week. Best wishes to both Michael and Clydebank as they aim to win promotion this year.

Timbers defender Brent Sancho had a solid game in Trinidad and Tobago's WCQ game against the US yesterday which finished 0 - 0. Although the game fitted the adjective used by most (check...ALL) the reporters...lackluster...Brent had a solid game on the left side of defence. Heading just over the US goal in the 61st minute from a corner, he left the game a few minutes later with an ankle injury, but impressed T&T's technical director Rene Simoes and will surely play a part in the team's preparation for the Gold Cup in January

Simoes singled out defender Brent Sancho, who controlled the left-side on defence. Sancho sustained an ankle injury and was replaced by Addison Belfon.
"He's a new good player," said Simoes.

United-States striker Daren Lewis will keep his goals fixed on making the Trinidad and Tobago team for the 2002 Gold Cup.
The Portland Timbers man was called for training ahead of Sunday's match against the United States but did not make the final 18-man cut released by Rene Simoes on Friday.
Speaking to TTFF Media a day earlier, Lewis said he was quietly confident of reaching higher heights.

"Getting a call to the national team is very good for me. I came down last year and I was named in the 32 man roster but I could not stay because I had school commitments. Then it was a wise decision for me," said Lewis.
"I am very happy to be here now. It is better late than never especially with the Gold Cup coming up. So that's like a goal for me to make it then."
Lewis, who accompanied Brent Rahim on the University of Connecticut team which captured the American NCAA Championship in 2000, added that despite waiting some time before playing his first game for the Timbers, the club wants to sign on for next season.

"I could not get my clearance when I first went to Portland due to some unfortunate circumstances. That limited me. But I scored in my first game which was the playoffs recently so that alone says how long it took me to get through to playing. I played my first game in September after the league started in March. I had been working out a lot in school recently after I found out that I would be coming back home. They want me back next season but I am not sure as yet because I am looking to probably go to Europe," he said.

"It is actually kind of unfortunate that he (Rahim) is not available for this game but certainly we've been good mates, we roomed together and we had some good days at school but I actually have not spoken to him since May," said Lewis.
Lewis recently returned to UCONN to complete four more classes before graduating.

MISL.net now has their stats page fully functional so you can keep tabs on both Darren Sawatzky and Greg Howes as they ply their trade indoor this winter (Kansas City Comets and Milwaukee Wave respectively). So far no goals for either (of either the 3, 2 or 1-point variety!)

News that Michael O'Neill is back home in N. Ireland and is looking to play for an Irish League club. The Belfast Telegraph mentions the clubs Portadown, Glentoran, Linfield, Coleraine (where Michael started his career) and Glenavon to be interested.

"I am home now and am considering all the options available to me and one of those is definitely playing here," said O'Neill today.

"If I felt it was right and suitable for me I would join an Irish League club. I would be willing to speak to anyone who was interested. I have business interests in the province and maybe after all my travelling, the time has come to set down some roots. I've played full-time for 15 years now and perhaps now is the time to consider going part-time. I've spoken to clubs in Scotland and England and had offers from further afield such as Australia but I'm keen to hear from Irish League clubs as well before making any decision. I certainly feel I have a lot to offer. I like to play in the centre of midfield now and would like to think I could benefit whoever I next play for."